Letter to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate Reporting on the Deployment
and Mission of United States Forces in the Multinational Force and Observers

March 19, 1982
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

On December 29, 1981 I signed into law Public Law 97 - 132, a Joint Resolution authorizing the
participation of the United States in the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) which will
assist in the implementation of the 1979 Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel. The U.S.
military personnel and equipment which the United States will contribute to the MFO are now in
the process of deployment to the Sinai. In accordance with my desire that the Congress be fully
informed on this matter, and consistent with Section 4(a)(2) of the War Powers Resolution, I am
hereby providing a report on the deployment and mission of these members of the U.S. Armed
Forces.

As you know, the 1979 Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel terminated the existing state of
war between those countries, provided for the complete withdrawal from the Sinai of Israeli
armed forces and civilians within three years after the date of the Treaty's entry into force (that is,
by April 25, 1982), and provided for the establishment of normal friendly relations. To assist in
assuring compliance with the terms of Annex I to the Treaty, so as to enhance the mutual
confidence of the parties in the security of the Sinai border area, the Treaty calls for the
establishment of a peacekeeping force and observers to be deployed prior to the final Israeli
withdrawal. Although the Treaty called on the parties to request the United Nations to provide
the peacekeeping force and observers, it was also recognized during the negotiations that it might
not be possible to reach agreement in the United Nations for this purpose. For this reason,
President Carter assured Israel and Egypt in separate letters that ``if the Security Council fails to
establish and maintain the arrangements called for in the Treaty, the President will be prepared to
take those steps necessary to ensure the establishment and maintenance of an acceptable
alternative multinational force.''

In fact, it proved impossible to secure U.N. action. As a result, Egypt and Israel, with the
participation of the United States, entered into negotiations for the creation of an alternative
multinational force and observers. These negotiations resulted in the signing on August 3, 1981 by
Egypt and Israel of a Protocol for that purpose. The Protocol established the MFO and provided
in effect that the MFO would have the same functions and responsibilities as those provided in the
1979 Treaty for the planned U.N. force. Included are: the operation of checkpoints,
reconnaissance patrols, and observation posts; verification of the implementation of Annex I of
the Peace Treaty; and ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran in accordance
with Article V of the Peace Treaty. By means of an exchange of letters with Egypt and Israel
dated August 3, 1981, the United States agreed, subject to Congressional authorization and
appropriations, to contribute an infantry battalion, a logistics support unit and civilian observers to
the MFO, as well as a specified portion of the annual costs of the MFO. The U.S. military
personnel to be contributed comprise less than half of the anticipated total MFO military
complement of approximately 2,500 personnel.

In Public Law 97 - 132, the Multinational Force and Observers Participation Resolution,
Congress affirmed that it considered the establishment of the MFO to be an essential stage in the
development of a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East. The President was authorized to
assign, under such terms and conditions as he might determine, members of the United States
Armed Forces to participate in the MFO, provided that these personnel perform only the functions
and responsibilities specified in the 1979 Treaty and the 1981 Protocol, and that their number not
exceed 1,200 at any one time.

In accordance with the 1981 Egypt-Israel Protocol, the MFO must be in place by 1300 hours on
March 20, 1982, and will assume its functions at 1300 hours on April 25, 1982. Accordingly, the
movement of U.S. personnel and equipment for deployment to the Sinai is currently under way.
On February 26 five unarmed UH - 1H helicopters (which will provide air transportation in the
Sinai for MFO personnel), together with their crews and support personnel, arrived at Tel Aviv;
on March 2 approximately 88 logistics personnel arrived at Tel Aviv; on March 17, the first
infantry troops of the First Battalion, 505th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division arrived in the
Southern Sinai; and by March 18 a total of 808 infantry troops, together with their equipment will
have arrived. These troops will be equipped with standard light infantry weapons, including M -
16 automatic rifles, M - 60 machine guns, M203 grenade launchers and Dragon anti-tank
missiles.

The duration of this involvement of U.S. forces in the Sinai will depend, of course, on the
strengthening of mutual confidence between Egypt and Israel. The U.S. contribution to the MFO
is not limited to any specific period; however, each country which contributes military forces to
the MFO retains a right of withdrawal upon adequate prior notification to the MFO
Director-General. U.S. participation in future years will, of course, be subject to the
Congressional authorization and appropriations process.

I want to emphasize that there is no intention or expectation that these members of the U.S.
Armed Forces will become involved in hostilities. Egypt and Israel are at peace, and we expect
them to remain at peace. No hostilities are occurring in the area and we have no expectation of
hostilities. MFO forces will carry combat equipment appropriate for their peacekeeping missions,
to meet the expectations of the parties as reflected in the 1981 Protocol and related documents,
and as a prudent precaution for the safety of MFO personnel.

The deployment of U.S. forces to the Sinai for this purpose is being undertaken pursuant to Public
Law 97 - 132 of December 29, 1981, and pursuant to the President's constitutional authority with
respect to the conduct of foreign relations and as Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Armed Forces.

Sincerely,

Ronald Reagan

Note: This is the text of identical letters addressed to Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr., Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and George Bush, President of the Senate.

The text of the letters was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on March 20.